The Future of Games

[lePobz]

In the not-so-distant future, all games will be available online-only via content distribution software like Steam. This is becoming even more evident with the release of the next generation consoles, that have massively increased support for online content downloads. It's almost a dead cert that the generation after the next will download games direct from a server (much like the Phantom (or whatever its called) that never took off.

So, Do you think this is a bad thing or not? The good thing is that you can buy games as soon as they are released, without having to go out and buy them. The down-side is that you don't actually own any physical property, even though you've just paid for something.

 

[Cole]

You can always backup your games.
Anyways, I love the idea. It offers developers more money, and it can really tighten there grip on cheaters. No longer will the cheater just loose his cd key, he looses his account and everything with it.

Will make people think twice.

 

[Reaktor4]

online-only

How do you know?

 

[Gorgon]

No, I don't like the idea. I prefer my games in boxes on CD/DVD....


alot of hackers..............

 

[BaconIsGood4You]

Yes, downloading online is just riskier, I'd rather have a box copy. For example, you need special patches from d2d.com, have to buy the expansion pack from d2d.com, can only install it so many times, etc.

 

[DarkStar]

I like the idea of content servers for one sole reason.

It avoids lining the pocklets of huge conglomerate publishers like EA and Vivendi.

 

[The Mullinator]

I'm all for it. I quickly got used to the idea that I didn't actually purchase a physical copy of HL2 so I don't think I will have any problem getting used to the idea for all my games. Plus if I want a physical copy as a back-up then I just have to burn it to a DVD.

 

[smwScott]

I voted yes because I like the way Steam does it. However, as mentioned before the way d2d does it (the only similar service I know of) is much less secure. It's a good idea but companies have to have a Steam-like service that is intricately tied into the way the product works.

 

[Ennui]

I voted no.

I don't mind Steam (I actually prefer it) but I like buying something physical (which is one of the reasons I got Gold). I also don't want 5-10 different content distributors running on my comp at the same time, one for each game developer.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

I like having a disc, then i can take it round a mates and play it there without having personal account info which could get stolen or lost. If i have the disc in my hand its safe. I like steam, the idea is conveniant but i like my hard copies (btw the reason i have a bronze account is because my retail dvd wouldnt work, so i sold it for a £2 profit! so retail was first)

 

[Solver]

I am strongly against Steam... but I don't mind buying & downloading online. Certainly saves trouble for people who live in countries where there are no game stores at all and where games may arrive a month or two after release. However, if such distribution systems are anything like Steam, I'd rather buy a train ticket to another country and buy the game there if I have to.

 

[Asus]

I like the idea of Steam but I don't think it should be exclusively online but also in stores. I like the option to buy online, lets put it that way. I know how to manage my programs and files. I don't need something in my hand.

I agree that there will be a big push in that direction in the future. Actually just about everything will be getting shoved down that pipe to your home in the future. Video/Audio/TV/Phone/Games...

 

[Asknoone]

I like both, i like steam, but i like a box

 

[Solver]

I like the idea of Steam but I don't think it should be exclusively online but also in stores. I agree that there will be a big push in that direction in the future. Actually just about everything will be getting shoved down that pipe to your home in the future. Video/Audio/TV/Phone/Games...

You are greatly forgetting the technological gap between countries such as the US and many European countries. In the US, using the Internet to download a ton of stuff is plausibly possible somewhat soon. In less developed European countries, people will never buy a game if it can only be bought through something like Steam. They don't have credit cards, they don't have the connection and bandwidth to download anything like that, etc.

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

Yeah. I personally can't wait until we here in Europe get these new-fangled "credit cards" and "broadband internet connections".

/me chews some straw

 

[Solver]

In fact, I could not be bothered with this, I live in a underdeveloped European country, but I have a 1.5 Mbit (which does sometimes go at up to 2.3 Mbit) line, and so I could download HL2 off Steam overnight, but I feel sorry for 56k people. Or even worse, those with limited bandwidth (THAT is the hell). I don't get it how people live with a limit of, say, 700 MB down a month. My downloads were about 3.5 GB in the last two days, with about 1.5 GB upload.

 

[lePobz]

I like the idea of getting content online, but only on the condition that the content can be used even when the content server is down or the connection has dropped.

I think content delivery systems like Steam can be great tools for stopping warez and stopping cheats, if used properly.

In the future i'd like to see one delivery platform that handles all publishers games, so we don't need to be running one client for each developer (things would get crazy).

I think there is plenty of potential for a good working system if existing developers unite to deliver their games to a single client (like steam, but for all games) with a single account per user.

 

[MuToiD_MaN]

Still there's something about a tangible, physical copy of the game that's just hard for me to give up.

 

[Hazar]

I like the idea that I can play right when it's released, even more considering I don't have to wait in line for an hour, drive back home, and then take time to install it.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

I like Steam. There's another product very similar to it called like XStream or something> I tried it, and it worked okay... But something about it just made me want to hit my computer sith a large hard object... It just bothered me.

 

[lePobz]

I like Steam. There's another product very similar to it called like XStream or something> I tried it, and it worked okay... But something about it just made me want to hit my computer sith a large hard object... It just bothered me.

Innuendo...

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

As much as I enjoy getting the CD or DVD, its just obvious that more and more will move ovre to downloads. It can rake in vast amounts of money over physical distribution.

 

[dart321]

Question! What happens when all developers get a Steam-like program and your constantly having to put up with 25 accounts and passwords, 25 video options and settings, 25 programs trying to connect to there servers on startup, 25 programs that you have to constantly patch and upgrade? As of yet, we are extremely lucky. Imagine what happens when the developers find out they can actually advertise efficiently on platforms like these? Hello pop ups! What if they want to start charging for special statuses such as "Gold accounts"?

Make no mistake, developers are in it for the money too.

 

[Murray_H]

I reckon most publishers will be taking steps to ensure they don't get left out of online delivery i.e. they will have a contractual agreement with any developers they work that they receive a certain percentage of any online sales

 

[Asuka]

I like steam for updates and more content. But i like to buy my games from a store. I WANT MY BOX!

 

[lePobz]

Question! What happens when all developers get a Steam-like program and your constantly having to put up with 25 accounts and passwords, 25 video options and settings, 25 programs trying to connect to there servers on startup, 25 programs that you have to constantly patch and upgrade? As of yet, we are extremely lucky. Imagine what happens when the developers find out they can actually advertise efficiently on platforms like these? Hello pop ups! What if they want to start charging for special statuses such as "Gold accounts"?

Make no mistake, developers are in it for the money too.

Hmm, like I said ...

I think there is plenty of potential for a good working system if existing developers unite to deliver their games to a single client (like steam, but for all games) with a single account per user.

The likely possibility is that one company will create a tool like steam that all developers publish for... this means you'll only need one account to be able to access all your games.

If anybody wants to get rich quickly, start up your own company that does this. Just remember me when you're a billionaire.

 

[<RJMC>]

no thanks

cuz think about the people whiout internet conection

 

[Smack500]

If this is going to happen with consoles, they are going to need to include large Hds with the system. Which in turn is going to raise the price.

As long as they sell the reatail version along with the dl version, it doesnt bother me. It would be a huge mistake to only sell it through dls, 90% of dialup users wouldnt even try to suffer through it.

 

[Stigmata]

If this is going to happen with consoles, they are going to need to include large Hds with the system. Which in turn is going to raise the price.

As long as they sell the reatail version along with the dl version, it doesnt bother me. It would be a huge mistake to only sell it through dls, 90% of dialup users wouldnt even try to suffer through it.

I assumed that this sort of system would be enacted once broadband internet became not only standard, but almost a social-acceptance requirement, kind of like the TV or phone line is nowadays.

As long as there's a fairly large consumer base with behind-the-curve/no internet connections, this will never become standard.

 

[lePobz]

As long as there's a fairly large consumer base with behind-the-curve/no internet connections, this will never become standard.

In a decade or so, broadband connections will be as common as TVs or phonelines are today - everyone will have one because all programs/films/music/games will be streamable on-demand over the line. This system is already in place in certain places as a trial.

Over the next decade we will see more migration of all services to streaming services, as more and more people get faster and faster connections. This isn't speculation, this is a fact.

I'm estimating that 20 years down the line, the market for physical medias like games/films/music-in-boxes would be so small (or non-existant) that no developers would cater for it. Unfortunately it doesn't matter whether you want to or not, it's the way it's going. Like digital TV nowadays ... they're shutting off analogue signals, so either you upgrade or you don't watch TV at all.

 

[Garfield_]

This is both good and bad. Good for those with high-speed internet connections and really bad for those with 0.5Mbit/s

 

[Vorac1ous]

No, I don't have intentions of ever owning a credit card plus if I buy my games via CD\DVD I won't have that crummy feeling of feeling like a criminal like when I downloaded ET.